Ion Channels

During the last few years a pivotal role for ion channels involvement in cancer has emerged. In Modulator #17, we reviewed examples of possible roles and interplay between ion channels and cancer. Recently, a large body of data has accumulated on the participation of K⁺, Na⁺, Ca²⁺, Cl^– and ligand-gated channels in cancer and apoptosis. To date, there is no broad consensus on the roles ion channels play in cancer. Ion channels are thought to “assist” cancer by affecting a number of pathways, namely, regulation of cell cycle of proliferating cells, perturbation of membrane potential, prevention of apoptosis, adaptation to harsh conditions, altering intracellular Ca²⁺ balance, and cell shrinkage. Interestingly, there are some examples of the same ion channel participating both in induction of cancer cell proliferation and in